Variable-speed power-transmitter.



` TURNBEHG/ VARIABLE SPEED POWER TRANSMITTER.

APPLICATION FILED AUGAI 1916,

Patented Oct. 8, 1918.

5 SHEETS-SHEET I.

TORNEI-IRG. lVMHABLE SPEED PGWEH TRANSMITTEFL APPLICATION FILED AUGJU |916.

A Patented 0@t.8,1918.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

lNvsN-ron I. TUHNBERG, VARIABLE SPEED POWER TRANSMITTER.

` APPLICATION FILED AUG.4, |916. 1,280,901

Patented o@t.s,191& 5 SHEETS-SHEET 4 1 Y Y Elm w I. TURNBE'RG. u VARIABLE SPEED POWER TRANSMITTER.

MPLICATION FILED AUGA, |9I6.

Patented Oct. 8, 1918.

v 5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

State' yof narran sratras Param? onirica.

ISIDQR TORNBERG, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y

VARIABIiE-SPEED POWERTRANSMITTER.

To all whom it may concern: :Be4 it known that I, Ismon TORNBBRG, a citizenof the VUnited States, and a-resident f'fof the city of New York, county of Kings, ew York, have invented certain @new and useful Improvements invariable necting the driving members to the members inmachines of various kinds Where Speed PowersTransmitters, of which the following is a full, clear, and .complete disclosure. l

invention relates to a mechanical vaspeed device adaptcd'for use in condriven dit is desired to vary the speed of the driven member with respect to the driving member r .jor to reverse its direction of rotation and is when desired, and which drlven member to remain particularly adapted for use in automobiles and other machines Where gradual changes ofspeed are desired.

The object of my invention is to provide a i-.relatively strong and simple variable gear device 'which Wil-l give a `or'lsieed 4hanging gra ual change of speed which .may be repermit a direct drive versed, which Will willy allow the at a standstill. yWhile the driving member continues to revolve at its regular Speed Without the use of friction or other clutches which are com- 0 monly used for purpose.

1, With these objects in view,

my improved device` comprisesfa-s'eries of connecting rods i connected With `and adapted to be reciprocated-or oscillated/by the driving,r member, a

. B5 series of rotary'g'ars connected to the driven ""fmember and also connected vto the connect- 4 0 driven member.

ing? rods by one way clutches so as to' be progressively rotated or driven thereby to impart" a continuous rotary motion` to the Itl also comprises Vmeans -whereby the throw or stroke of the connect- -ingro smay be varied toy thereby vary the speedof lthe driven member. It also com- 1prisesfmeans,'whereby the rotation of the y 1l.

drivenine'mber lmay be reversed and preferbly comprises i means for connecting the rivenmember directly to the driving member when the. tWo have been brought to substantially the-same speed.

My I device also embodies other improved eature's suchifas'vill 'make it impossible for .the careless operator to' suddenly change the .forward direction of motion of the driven.

Specification o! Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 8, 1918.

Application led ugust 4, 1916. Serial No. 143,057.

member to the reverse direction without brlnglng the machine to the neutral 0r no speed position ".n the transition, thus avoidin' serious damage to the mechanism, and

ct er features which I will describe in connection with the preferred embodiments of my invention shown in the drawing accompanying and Aforming a part of this specification.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure'l shows a longitudinal section of one embodiment of 'my improved device.

Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a section reduced in size taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a detail view showing; the one Way clutches employed to connectthe connectingg` rods Vto the driving pinions or gears.

Figs. 5 to l1 inclusive, show a modificamay be connected at 3 to any suitable source of power. 4; designates a bowl shaped member keyed to the driving `shalt 2 and arranged t0 .receive and support the member 5 Which I will refer to hereinafter as the ropelling disk. This disk 5 is provided at its back with a projection 6 which rests in a suitable groove cut in the tace of the bowll 4 and the arrangementis such that the disk 5 will revolve with the member L but it can fbe'adjusted or tilted by rotating cam 7 mounted on the shaft 2. This cam en ages rolls or studs 8 mounted on the dis r, as

shown in Fig. 3, and the arrangement ,is-

such that when the came is rotated in either directionV from the neutral position shown in the drawing the disk will `be tilted or in. clined with respect to shaft. 2. A ring isv mounted by studs l() in. an outer pivotally ring 11 and this outer ring 11 is also pivotally mounted by studs l2 (see F1952). The

studs 12 are disposed 90 degrees from the studs 10 and the arrangen'lent is such thzit the ring 9 cnn be rocked or tilted by the disk 5 when this disk is thrown out of its neutral position shown in Fig. 1. The connecting rods 13 are euch secured :Lt one end to the ring 9 and et their other ends to levers 14 which in turn are secured. to the bevel driving gears 15 by Oneway clutches or rntchets lo. The gears 15 are arranged to mesh with-two mein driving gears 17 and 18, both mounted on the driven member or shaft 19. A clutch member 20. is slidnbly mounted on the driven inen'iber 19 and is keyed to revolve therewith. The operator-s lever is shown at 21 and is pivoted et With its inner end in engagement with the sliding collar 23. The coller 23 is slidzibly mounted on the sleeve formed integral with the cum 7. The coller 23 has :i stud 25 mounted thereon arranged to slide in n longitndii'ml slot in the shzitft 2, and also in the curved slot 2S in the sleeve 24, and the arrangement is such that by moving the leve. 2l and thereby shifting the coller 23 endwise along the sleeve 24, the sleeve 24 and cum 7 formed intcgrel therewitl'i nre ,rotated with respect to the shaft 2 and the disk 5 is tilted by the cem so that when. rotated it will rock or oscillute the ring 9 and thereby imparting oscilhitory motion progressively to the connecting rods The throw of these connecting rods c-.rn be udjusted by the lever 21 end this makes it possible to gradually end progressively adjust the speed of rotation of the driving gears 1T er 1S. The clutch member 20 'which connects either gear 17 or gear to the driven memberciuries nn'extension sleeve/3f which .held by a. spring 31 against the. cip The cap is provided with nn inclined snrfece 33 shown in dot-ted lint in Fig. 1 .find this inclined surface rests against e second inclined surface 34 formed on the sleeve 24. These inclined surfaces are so disposed that by moving the operating lever 21 in one direction and thereby turning the ,hub 24 in a c orresprmding direction. the

clutch member 20 Will be forced into engager ment with one of the driving gears, say 17, While by moving the operating lever in the opposite direction the spring 30 vwill be permitted to force the clutch member 20 into engagement with the other gear, namely, 18. It must be noted that the end motion of the sleeve' 30 takes place et the initial motion of the operetors handle 21', e., when the driven member is being rotated at the slowest possible speed. As the handle 21 is :Eur-l ther menip'ulated to get a higherspeed of 'the driven member no further end motion of the sleeve 30 and clutch member 20 takes place. Hence there is -no danger of shock or breakage of the clutch teeth when they are engaged.

The u'leclnuiism described above is Shown in neutral position, that is, the operating surface of the disk 5 is perpendicular to the driving shaft 2 so that the rotation of the driving slnli't will not niove't'heririg 9. The operation of the device briefly described is :1s follows: By gradually moving the top of the operating lever forward or toward the .source of power the clutch 2O is forced into engagement with the geur 17 und simultaneously the disk 5 is gradually tilted sol as to incline the ring 9, which, being rotated in inclined position oscilletes the connecting rods progressively und with a stroke (lepi-niding on the inclination of the disk. The connecting rods impart rotary motion progressively to the gears 15 and these gcins in turn come into operation progressi rely :ind impart e rotary motion to the driving geur 17.' The speed of this gear and the ing the dish 5 above explained. l/Vhen, it is desired to reverse the direction of drive the lever 21 is mmed in the opposite direction with the result, that the ring 5 is first brought to n. i'icntrnl position et which time the clutch member 2O is disengaged from gear 17 and then et n 'further movement of the lever 21 in the seme direction the member 20 is clutched to 'disli 18 and ring 5 is signin tilted and the' driven member 19 is drivenin. the reverse direction et :my desired speed.

The moditicat-ion shown in Figs. 5 to 11 inclusive, which 1 will now describe, 0perates in the sinne general wav-and embodies mechanisms in part the same, as the :ip pnrntns described. above. The numeral 40 designates en outer easing in which the apparet-ns is assembled. 41 designates the driving sho. ti" which may be connected at 42 to the source of? power. dis-lr :md this is mounted in the bowl shaped .tecn ot u cani member 44 which in thru enrries a sleeve 45 inside integral' with '44 mountedv on the driving shaft 41. `46 are mounted on thel rear surface of the driving disk and en age the cam surface 4'? of the cam 44. 48 wsignetes .the operator-s pedal pivoted at 49 and provvided' at its inner end with a yoke 5G which engages the collar 51 slidably mounted 0n sleeve 45. Thecoller 51 carries a pin 52 shown in Fig'. l1, and this pin is arranged to slide inlongitudinally disposed slot 53 in,4 the driving shaft and also in the curved slot 54 in the sleeve 45 und the ari-an ement is such that by moving the pedal an shifting the collar the' relative position of the sleeve with reaspect to the driving shaft maybe shifted'. 125

58 by pins -59 (see Ifig. 7 Idisposed 90 de- 43 is the driving Rollers I ius formed integral grecs from the pins yThe member 58 is y with an inner housing 60 and is adapted to rotate tlierew ith. This inner `housingg is journaled at 6l and 62 in the outer casing and is free to rotate therein ex cept when restrained by the brake 63 to which 1 will later refer..

As'iin the arrangement already described the lfrreseiit arrangement comprises connecting rods for connecting the oscillatory ring with a of drive pinions or gears.

These are shown at 64 and are connected atI one end to the ring 55 and at the other end I to oscillatory levers 65 connected with the gears 66 by one-Way clutches or ratchets 67. 68 designates the driven shaft to be attached to any suitable element to be driven at 69. 70 and 71 designatcthe direct and reverse driving gears. A. clutch member 72 is pro- `that w` en the pedal 48 is released from the vided and is normally held in position shown in the drawing by springs 73. In order to shift this clutch member andthrow it in engageniient with either the forward or reverse gear I provide a `sleeve 74 mounted on tlie'sliaift 4.1 and provided with a pin 75,

disposed in a cam shaped slot 76 in the Ihember 78 which is formed integrally with the drivin disk 43. The groove 76 is so shaped notched segment 79and Iallowed to move backward. under thepull of spring 80 the groove 76 4will throw the sleeve 74 to the rear and cause it to engage the driving gear 70. On a further movement of the pedal in the same direction the driving member will ssivcly be brought up substantially to- .ed of the driven. member and on a still further movement of the pedal the teeth 81 on the sleeve 74 will engage teeth 82 on the driven member and result in a direct drive. kSimnltaneoiisly cam 83 will engage the end Si oit' the push rod 85 and cause this rod to swing the lever 86 (see Fig. V8)

' i and turn the screw 87 thereby loosening the brake 63, permitting the housing and its contained mechanism. to rotate freely. To reverse the direction of the drive the pedal 4:8 is puslliged oiiltwardly. This results in first applying the brake 63 then 1n gradually bringing the drive to neutral position then in unclutching the driving gear and next in clutching the gear 71 to the driven shaft so that the rotation ofithe driven member will be reversed and it may be "driven in a 'reversiiad direction, progressively at any desired speed.l It will be seen that the numbc, and size oi? pinions 66 may beso proportioned that the driven member will rotate at aiproximately the speed of the driving mem er when the point for direct connecting the two members arrives. Thus the two clutches are brought to rotate at approximately `the same` spcedbefore they may be engaged.

'While I have described only. two ,oi'nbodin ments of my invention I am awarethat further embodiments may be made withoutdeparting from the scope of iny claims.

lVliat I claim is:

l. In a device of the kind described., a drivin sha-ft, a driven shaft lin alinement therewith, a plurality of connectin rods arranged substantially parallel to sai shaft connecting with and adapted to. be recip rocated by said drivin shaft, a gear mounted onsaid driven sha t, a plurality of gears meshing therewith and connected with said connecting rods by one-way clutches, all for the purpose described.

2. In a device of the kind described, driving shaft,"a plurality of connecting rods connected with and adapted to be reciprocated by said driving shaft, a driven shaft, two driving gears mounted thereon, a series 'of gears in mesh with said driving gears and connected with said connecting rods by one-way clutches, in connection with means for clutching either one or the other of said drivinggears to the driven shaft, all for, the purpose described. I

` '3. AIn adevice of the kind described, a drivin shaft,a driven shaft in alinement. therewith, a plurality of connecting rods arranged substantially parallel to said shaft connected with and arranged t'o be recipro`` cated by said drivingshaft, means for varying the stroke of said connecting rods, a

driving gear mounted on said driven shaft,

a plurality of gears meshing therewith and connected with said connecting rods by onces. Way clutches, all for the urpose described. 4. In a device of the Ikind described, a driving shaft, a plurality of connecting rods connected with and adapted to be rec`pro` cated bysaid driving shaft', means for varying th; stroke of said connecting rods, ay driven shaft, two drivin gears mountedk thereon, a series of. gears 1n mesh with said driving gears and connected with said connectingmrods by y one-way clutches in connection with means for clutching either one or the other of said driving gears to thej driven shaft, all for the purpose described.. A

5. In a, devicer of the kind described, av driving shaft, a rotatable disk keyed thereon, a pivoted ringfixed against rotation and4 disk lfor the purpose described.

e. in a deviez@ .of the kind described, a` driving shaft, a rotatable disk keyed thereon, a pivoted ring fixed against rotation and f `disposed against the-.face of said disk, a plurality of connecting rods connected at one end to said ring,V means for tilting said disk sothat its rotation will impart a rocking motion to .said ringy anda reciprocating i motion to saidl connecting rods, a driven shaft, two driving gears mounted thereon, a plurality oi gears in mesh with said driving gears and connected with said connecting rods bv onc-wav clutches all for the ur ose i, J a

described,

7, In a device oi the kind described, a driving shaft, a rotatable disk mounted thereon having a semi-spherical shaped baclr, a earn also mounted on sai she having a lished or bowl shaped face adapted to receive said disk and means for rotating said cam for the purpose of tilting said dislr with respect to the shaft, all for the purpose described.

8 In device of the lrind described, a driving shaft, a plurality of connecting rods connected with and adapted to be reciprocated by said driving shaft, a driven shaft, two driving gears mounted. thereon,`a series of gears in mesh with said driving gears and connected to said connecting'rods by oneway clutches in combination with means for varying the stroke of saidconnecting rods, for clutching either of said driving gears to the driven shaft and for connecting the driving and driven shafts direct for the purpose described.

9. In a device of the kind described, a driving member, a driven member, avariable speed mechanism comprising a plurality of reciprocating levers adapted to transmit power from one member to the other meniber, a housing adapted to contain a portion of the mechanism, and held against rotation by a clutch, means for operating said clutch, whereby the variable speed mechanism becomes inoperative, and means ifo" simultaneously clutching the driving and Vdriven niembers directly7 yto each other.

it). In a device of the kind described, a driving shaft, a driven sliaftin alinement therewith a plurality of connecting rods arranged substantially parallel to the driving shaft and connecting with and adapted to be reciprocated by said shaft, and means actuated by said rods adapted to rotate the driven shaft.

11. In a device of the kind described, a driving shaft, a driven shaft in alinement therewith, a plurality of connecting rods arranged substantially parallel to the driving Laeasci shaft, means acting upon the rotation of said driving shaft for reciprocating sai bodily in lines substantially parallel 'te driving shaft, and means actuated by said rods for rotating the driven shaftu l2. In a device of the kind described, in combination, a driving member, a driven member, and variable speed mechanism inH terniediate said members including a ring, a mounting for said ring permitting it to tilt in any direction with respect to the axis of said driving shaft, a housing mounted to rotate and supporting the mounting of saidring, brake for said housing, and means for tilting the pla-ne el said ring in different directions as said. driving member rotates.

13. In a device of combination, a driving member, a driven member, and variable speed mechanism intermediate said members including a ring, a gimoal mounting for said ring, a housing mounted to rotate and supporting said gimbal mounting, a brake' for said housing, and means for tilting the plane of said ring in diderent directions as said driving member rotates,

1 4. In a device of the kind described, a driving shaft, a pivoted ring' iiXed against rotation, a rotatable -dislr fixed to said shaft and' pressing-against said ring, means whereby said disk and ring may be tilted With respect to the axis of said shaft, a driven shaft,

the kind described in v two driving gearsmounted thereon, means for rotating said gears from said ring, a clutch for connecting either of said gears to the driven shaft as desired, and operating connections between said disk and said ciutcli whereby' 'the inclination of said disk determines the operation of said clutch.

15. In a device of the kind described, a driving shaftj'a driven shaft in alincinent therewith, 'a gimbal mounted ring normally fixed against rotation, a disk mounted on 'said driving member in contact with said ring and arranged to be tilted with respect to theaxis of said driving shaft, a plurality of rods connected to said ring! and substantially parallel toV said shafts, and gearing between said rods and said driven shaft.

ISIDOR -TORNBERG n. 

